Naomi Campbell‘s former maid has slammed the supermodel as a ‘weird’ attention-seeker for flaunting the infamous designer dress she wore while serving out for her punishment for attacking her.
Speaking to DailyMail.com housekeeper Ana Scolavino, 58, says she is still traumatized by the 2006 incident that saw Campbell hurl her diamond-encrusted cellphone at her in a violent fit of rage.
Scolavino’s head was split open by the impact as she tried to escape the star’s New York apartment – and she later struggled to find work due to the crippling anxiety she suffered as a result of the assault.
Campbell, 54, was ordered to complete five days of community service and anger management classes, but drew further controversy when she showed up to her last day of her sentence in an ornate silver designer dress.
And now, the iconic Dolce & Gabbana gown has been put on display at a new exhibit celebrating her life and career at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
The infamous Dolce & Gabbana gown Naomi Campbell wore on her last day of her court-ordered community service in 2007 has been put on display at a new exhibit celebrating her life and career
The supermodel’s former housekeeper Ana Scolavino, who was assaulted by Campbell in 2006, slammed the move as ‘weird’ and ‘in poor taste’
In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, Ana said: ‘She shouldn’t be drawing attention to something that was so terrible.
‘If you attack someone, you should say that you are sorry. You should not be showing off about it and using what happened for publicity.
‘For me, personally, I have tried to forget about that day and move on with my life.
‘But maybe Naomi is older now and she is not getting as much modelling work, so she needs this kind of attention.
‘It is weird and in poor taste, but these famous people do whatever they want.’
Campbell was arrested in March 2006 and – having initially dismissed Ana’s claims – she eventually admitted to third-degree assault after striking a plea bargain with prosecutors.
She accepted throwing the phone in a fit of rage, but denied she intended it to hit the housekeeper.
In January 2007, Campbell only narrowly avoided jail, with the judge ordering her to attend anger management classes and perform five days of community service.
And it was on her final day sweeping the streets of New York that she donned the silver, sequined D&G dress that now hangs in the V&A Museum.
Explaining why she wanted to put the frock on display, Campbell said in a recent interview: ‘It’s part of my life. I was open and I came out in my dress. I was very aware of what I was doing and I finished my week of community service.’
Chile-born Ana, who was 34-years-old when she was hired to clean the star’s two-bedroom duplex in Midtown Manhattan, says she only wants to forget.
She said: ‘I’d worked for other celebrities like Mick Jagger before – who was lovely and such a nice person to work with – and Robert De Nero.
The dress is now among the various looks and pieces on display at the new ‘Naomi: In Fashion’ exhibition Victoria & Albert Museum in London
It was on her final day sweeping the streets of New York that she donned the silver, sequined D&G dress that now hangs in the V&A Museum
Campbell recently explained her decision to put the gown on display saying: ‘It’s part of my life. I was open and I came out in my dress’
‘But I had no idea I would be working for Naomi Campbell until it was too late.
‘On one of my first days on the job, I was alone cleaning her apartment as she was flying back from London.
‘When she arrived, she was having a huge fight with her personal assistant.
‘Naomi was screaming at her and the girl was saying, ‘Who do you think you are, you can’t treat me this way.’
‘They’d fallen about something at the airport and the girl ended up storming out.
‘Later, Naomi said to me, ‘I’m so sorry about that. Would you mind doing some extra work for me, because my personal assistant just quit.’
‘I ended up becoming her part time personal assistant as well as her housekeeper.’
Ana added: ‘At first everything was fine and Naomi was happy with me because I did a great job for her.
‘But it was always long hours. Sometimes I would start at 8am and we would not finish until the early hours of the following morning.
‘A week after I started, Naomi was going to Brazil, which has a tropical climate, and then Milan, which would be cold at that time of year.
‘Me and another housekeeper were packing her bags all day with Naomi acting as supervisor.
Campbell read out a letter of apology outside of New York Criminal Court after receiving her sentence for attacking her housekeeper, in 2007
She spent the week cleaning the New York City Sanitation Department in March 2007
Campbell poses near one of the exhibits at the exhibition launch of NAOMI: In Fashion at The Dorchester on March 13
‘She was bringing five or sex extra-large suitcases and she wanted different bags allocated for each part of the trip.
‘At 2am, I told Naomi, ‘I’m too tired, I’ve been here since 8am, I need to go home.’ She begged me, saying: ‘Please don’t leave me Ana, I need you.’
‘I said, ‘No, I have to go, I’ll be back in the morning.’ Just as I was leaving the apartment, I heard screaming. Naomi started yelling, ‘Ana, can you come in here please?’
‘I went upstairs and she was screaming at the other maid, who was working her first day.
‘Naomi was saying, ‘Look at what this stupid woman did? She put the white trousers (pants) in the luggage to go to Milan.’
‘I said, ‘Naomi, people make mistakes, please calm down so I can speak to her.’
‘But she spoke to people like they were dogs and you needed the memory of an elephant to keep track of her orders.’
It was previously reported that Campbell attacked Ana after accusing her of stealing a pair of jeans.
But the maid today reveals that it was another housekeeper, based in London, that was accused of taking the designer pants and then fired.
On why she fell out with Campbell, Ana said: ‘It was the day she was due to be interviewed by Oprah Winfrey at home.
Campbell was arrested in March 2006 and – having initially dismissed Ana’s claims – she eventually admitted to third-degree assault after striking a plea bargain with prosecutors
At the time it was reported that Campbell had attacked Ana after accusing her of stealing a pair of jeans
‘I was cleaning the apartment when a friend of Naomi’s introduced himself and told me, ‘She had a huge fight with her boyfriend in LA and she’s tired as the flight was delayed so be careful with her. And don’t talk to her – she’s in a bad mood and the best thing you can do is stay quiet.’
‘I said, ‘OK’ and I did my best, but she was nervous and stressed and everything we did was wrong.
‘She would be shouting, ‘Ana, who put the flowers here?’ The apartment was beautiful – and she was so rude she crossed a line.
‘I walked upstairs and told her, ‘I can’t do this anymore. I’m sorry but I quit, you need to find someone else.’
Ana says she’s still traumatized by the incident that left her needing stitches to her head
‘She shouted, ‘No, you can’t leave me, I’m alone and don’t have another housekeeper.’ She started throwing clothes at me.
‘I told her, ‘I’m sorry, but I’m done’ and I walked down the stairs very calmly.
‘That is when she picked up the phone and threw it at my head. It opened my scalp and I had to have six stitches.
‘Her friend was shouting at her, saying, ‘Naomi, why did you do that? You are crazy.’
‘Naomi was hysterical and was saying, ‘I’m sorry.’ She tried to hug me but I said, ‘Don’t come anywhere near me.’
‘I picked up my purse and I used my apron to stem the bleeding from my head.’
‘I was very shaken. When someone attacks you like that, it really affects you.
‘It made me very careful with the people I worked for after that and it became hard for me to find work. I still remember what happened like it was yesterday.
‘I didn’t go to court because I didn’t want to see her again and I felt her punishment was too soft. Because she was famous, she didn’t get what she deserved.’
Campbell was later taken to court by a succession of former assistants and household staff, who made similar claims against her.
Ana continued: ‘The other employees told me I deserved a medal because I managed to stay in the job for three months, while most left after a few weeks.
‘The good thing was that my case opened the door for other people to sue her, whilst before they were too scared.
‘I haven’t heard of her attacking anyone recently and maybe she learned her lesson.
‘I heard she has babies now, so I hope she has changed her life.’